Images of the Economy of Nature, 1650-1930

The book discusses ideas concerning the order and balance of nature (or "economy of nature") from the late 17th century to the early 20th century. The perspective taken is broad, longue durée and interdisciplinary, and reveals the interplay of scientific, philosophical, moral and social ideas. 

 

The story begins with natural theology (dating roughly to the onset of the so-called Newtonian Revolutio...